Suffolk/Essex: Flood warnings and alerts are issued

FLOOD warnings are in place tonight, but forecasters believe flooding is most likely at the end of the week.

The Environment Agency has issued flood warnings - which means flooding is expected - for areas including Haverhill and Chelmsford and flood alerts - which means flooding is possible - for areas including Sudbury and Colchester.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service said the service had been called to reports at 3.03pm of a lady trapped in her car in Gazeley Road, Moulton, near Newmarket, in about a foot of water.

Two pumps from Bury St Edmunds attended and a crew from Princes Street, Ipswich, were also called, but they were not needed. It is believed the lady had been towed to safety by a member of the public.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk Police said they had a few reports generally across the county of people saying there was water sitting on the road, but it was not causing problems.

She said the Environment Agency had made the force aware of possible issues with the Upper Stour and tributaries near Haverhill and Kedington. She said part of the A143 between Sudbury and Haverhill was closed, but it was due to reopen.

“Generally there’s a lot of water on the roads, but it’s not causing huge problems.”

A spokeswoman for Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said there had been no incidents of any note in north Essex.

However, crews were called to rescue motorists stranded in flood water across Essex this morning, and put out a plea for drivers to use some common sense.

Divisional Officer Neil Fenwick said: “It is astonishing just how many motorists have driven their car into flood water and need our help to get themselves, and often their families, out of their predicament.

“If you can’t see how deep the water is, don’t drive through it, it’s as simple as that.”

Steve Western, a lead forecaster at Weatherquest, said about 10mm of rain had fallen at Wattisham.

“What I can tell you is that the rain is going to continue through this evening and overnight.

“Tomorrow will be mainly dry, but rather cloudy.”

He said there was likely to be more rain over Saturday afternoon or Saturday night.

“I think if we are going to have any flooding we will wake up to floods on Sunday morning.”

Flood warning were issued for Stour Brook at Haverhill and Sturmer and the Bumpstead Brook from Steeple Bumpstead to New England, the River Colne from Castle Hedingham to upstream of Halstead and Riverside properties in Chelmsford, including the cricket ground.

And flood alerts were issued for the River Stour from Sudbury to Manningtree, the Rattlesden River from Rattlesden and the River Gipping from Stowmarket to Needham Market, the River Colne from Great Yeldham to Colchester, the Rivers Pant and Blackwater from Great Bardfield to Langford, including Braintree, the River Brain from Black Notley to Witham, the River Chelmer from Great Dunmow to Rivermead campus and Industrial Estate in Chelmsford, the Stour and Bumpstead Brooks and the River Stour from Kedington to Sudbury.

•If you have taken any pictures of flooding in Suffolk or north Essex send them to suffolk.iwitness24.co.uk